Sputum-cup.



H. J. POTTER.

SPUTUM 0UP.

APPLICATION FILED T1113. 9, 1907.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

Harr

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rnarrnn srATns r 'rENT OFFTOE.

HARRY J. POTTER, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ASEPTIODRINKING CUP COMPANY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OFMAINE.

SPUTUN-CUP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. POTTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an improvement in Sputum-Cups, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to receptacles or cups and more particularly toaseptic sputum cups adaptedfor use in hospital and sanitariums or thelike or which may be conveniently carried in a pocket of the user foruse during a brief period.

Cheapness of cost and manufacture may be secured not only by using paperor the like but by forming the cup of a single blank cut to preventwaste material, such paper or other material being if desired treated inany preferred manner to render it liquid proof, such receptacle beingdesigned to be destroyed after having been used for a brief period,preferably by burning to avoid contagion, for which reason the materialemployed in the manufacture is preferably of a fibrous nature.

In order that the principles of the invention may be more ful y apparentI have disclosed one type or embodiment thereof in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan of the blank from which thereceptacle embodying my invention may be formed; Fig. 2 is an endelevation of the blank folded into form excepting that the securingflaps are shown as laterally distended; Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe receptacle complete excepting for the cover and handle; Fig. 4 is aside elevation of the receptacle on a reduced scale showing the mannerof fastening the securing flaps Fig. 5 is a perspective view of thereceptacle with the handle in position and the cover tilted upwardlyfrom the receptacle, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the form ofwire handle preferably employed in this embodiment of my invention.

Referring to that single type or embodiment of my invention hereselected for illustration, the blank wherefrom the receptacle ispreferably formed may be of cardboard which may, if desired, be suitablytreated to render it liquidproof. The blank is substantially rectangularin contour and is made Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 9, 1907.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

Serial No. 358,509.

with the minimum amount of waste in cutting the same to provide thenecessary securing means. The blank comprises a base portion 1, sideportions 2 and 5 and end portions 3 and 4 extending therefrom, theadjacent sides and ends united by substantially rectangular cornerportions 6, 7, 8 and 9, which are herein indicated as scored along adiagonal thereof, there being a line of scoring between the adjacentportions enumerated. Preferably the sides 2 and 5 and the cornerportions 6, 7, 8 and 9 are prolonged to afford reinforcing rims 10 and11, each of which is provided with an opening 12 preferably ellipticalin outline. The ends 3 and 4 are prolonged to form reinforcing rims 13and 14, each of which has lateral flaps 15 preferably notched along oneedge as indicated at 16. Each flap 15 is of substantially the width ofthe reinforcing rim 13 and 14. Preferably, an opening 17 is formed alongthe line of union of one of the reinforcing rims as 13 and the side fromwhich it extends. The blank may be scored along the bases of the rims asindicated in Fig. 1. It will be observed that the only waste material isthat cut out be tween the flaps 15 and the adjacent corner portions, andthat therefore the receptacle is made with a minimum of waste and yet itpresents the maximum amount of reinforcement throughout the upper rimthereof and at the ends of the receptacle.

In folding the blank into form, the sides and ends 2, 3, 4 and 5 are upfolded from the base 1, the corner portions being doubled uponthemselves along the diagonally scored lines thereof and out foldedflatwise against the outer end walls 3 and 4 of the receptacle, each rim10 and 11 being'folded upon the outside of the end wall and the cornerportions to which it is attached. In this position of the parts, theupper rim of each of the end walls 3 and 4 receives a triple reinforcement, this being afforded by the folded corner portion of the rims10 and 11 lying thereagainst. In this position of the parts, the upperedge of each of the side walls 2 and 5 is singly reinforced by thecentral ortion of the reinforcing rims 10 and 11. 11 order now to lockthe receptacle in shape and to further reinforce the upper rim thereof,the rims 13 and 14 are downwardly and outwardly folded upon the upperedge of the ends 3 and 4 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, whereby saidends receive aquadruple reinforcement. The length of the flaps 1.5 andthe position of the notches 16 therein is preferably such that thatportion of each flap 15 extending between the notch 16 therein and theend thereof is received in the appropriate opening 12 without slackness.Thus, the upper rim of each of the sides 2, 3 is doubly reinforced. Itwill be observed that the reinforcing and securing portions of thereceptacle are located entirely upon the exterior thereof, so that anuninterrupted surface is afforded on the interior.

A cover may, when desired, be employed in connection with thereceptacle. Covers have heretofore been pivotally mounted upon the edgeof a receptacle formed from a blank by the provision of a tab or flaprising from the edge of the receptacle and received within a slot in thecover, the cover thus pivoting upon such tab. Such construction isobjectionable in that the protruding tab is liable to be broken, thusdestroying the uniting means for the receptacle and the cover, andmoreover such tab protruding through the cover interferes with thecarrying of the receptacle in the pocket or packing of a number of thesame compactly. Furthermore such a construction is objectionable in thatit weakens the receptacle by reason of the fact that a portion of thereceptacle itself is cut out to provide such a tab or tabs and theposition of the tabs is re stricted or limited to certain portions ofthe edge of the receptacle, and particularly is this so if thereceptacle be formed in the general manner herein indicated, that is tosay, by out folding corner portions, 6 and 7, inasmuch as such openingsmust be located between a corner of the receptacle and the extreme innerlimit of such out foldin corner portions. In other words, in such priorconstruction, so far as I am aware, it was not feasible to employ asingle tab extending centrally from the upper edge of one of the sidesor ends.

In the present type of my invention, the tab for securing the cover isstruck from the cover itself as indicated in Fig. 5, wherein the cover18 is provided with a tab 19 adapted to be inserted through the slot oropening 17 heretofore described and between the inner wall of thereceptacle and the corner portions that are outwardly folded against theouter side of such wall. I am, of course, not restricted to theprovision of a single tab upon the cover nor to the central dispositionthereof, but such central tab may be more readily formed than aplurality of side tabs and affords a sure movement of the cover, inaddition to which fact a firm housing is afforded for the tab betweenthe inner wall of the receptacle and the meeting ends of the out foldedcorner portions, which themselves are strengthened upon the outside bythe downwardly folding rim 13. Moreover a smooth upper surface isafforded upon the invention to pivotally mount the cover upon any one ofthe sides or ends of the receptacle.

In the present type of my invention, I preferably provide a handle whichherein not only serves as a means for supporting the receptacle butaffords a means which nor mally maintains the cover closed and yields topermit the opening thereof when the protruding portion 20 of the coveris pressed as indicated in Fig. 5.

A preferable form of handle is indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 and comprisesa light spring wire 21 having the triangular portions 22, 23 adapted tobe engaged between an end wall of the receptacle and the corner portionsfolded thereagainst, each triangular portion 22 or 23 being extended asshown to present forwardly extending members 24, 25 and uprisingportions 26, 27 terminating in ends 28 and 29, preferably lying upon theupper surface of the cover, the extremities of such ends being, ifdesired, down turned and extending through perforations in the cover asindicated in Fig. 5. If desired, the covergmay be notched as indicatedat 30 at opposite edges to receive the portions 26, 27 of the handle. Ifdesired, a loop 31 may be formed in the handle to receive the finger ofthe user. In 6 wherein the handle is removed 7 from the receptacle, itwill be observed that the outer side of the triangular portions 22, 23normally flare upward, it hence being necessaryto compress or force themtoward each other when positioning the handle. Thus, the handle issecurely held by the lateral pressure of said side portions of thetriangular members 22, 23 against the line of union of the cornerportions and the end walls.

The wire of which the handle is preferably formed is preferably highlyresilient, so that it readily yields when pressure is applied to theoverlying portion 20 of the cover and yet the cover is instantlyreturned to position after use of the receptacle.

Any suitable handle may be employed in connection with my invention, andthe cover may be maintained closed in any suitable manner.

Having thus described one type or embodiment of my invention, I desireit to be understood that although specific terms are used they areemployed in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims.

1. A receptacle blank comprising a base portion 1, side portions 2, 5and end portions 3, 4, extending therefrom, corner portions 6, 7, 8 and9 intermediate said side and end portions, reinforcing rims 10, 11extending from said side portions and corner portions, and havingopenings or slits formed therein entirely within the body portionsthereof, and reinforcing portions 13, 14 extending from said endportions 3, a and provided with laterally extending flaps 15 formed ascontinuations of and in line with the longitudinal extent of theportions 13 and 1e and having portions adapted to engage said openings12.

2. receptacle comprising a base portion 1, side portions 2, and endportions 3, 4 extending therefrom, corner portions 6, 7, 8, 9,intermediate said side and end portions,

reinforcing rims 10, 11 extending from said side portions and cornerportions and having openings or slits formed therein entirely within thebody portions thereof, and reinforcing portions 13, 1% extending fromsaid end portions 3, 4. and provided with laterally extending flaps 15having portions adapted to engage said openings 12, said flaps 15 beingof substantially the same width as and forming eontinuations in linewith the longitudinal extent of the reinforcing rims 13, 14 and havingnotches 16 therein, the portions of said flaps 15 adjacent the notches16 therein being adapted to engage the openings or slits 12.

A receptacle formed from a single blank and comprising a base,upstanding side and end walls 2, 3, 4i, 5, corner portions 6, 7, 8, 9intermediate said side and end walls, each adapted to be folded along adiagonal thereof and to be superimposed ilatwise upon the outside of anend wall of the receptacle, said end walls having reinforced rims 13 and14 adapted to be down folded upon the outside of the receptacle, flaps15 extending from the opposite ends of the reinforced rims 13 and 1a andin line with the longitudinal extent thereof, rims and 11 extending fromsaid side walls 2 and 5 and having openings or slits formed thereinentirely within the body portions thereof to receive portions of flaps15.

1. A sputum cup formed from a single blank, one of the upright wallsthereof having a down folded reinforcing rim provided with an openingformedlongitudinally of the line of union of such rim and wall, and acover having a tab struck therefrom and adapted to be inserted in suchopening to form a point of pivotal connection between the receptacle andthe cover.

5. A receptacle formed from a single blank comprising a base and upstanding sides and ends, corner portions integral with and intermediatesaid sides and ends and adapted to be folded upon diagonals thereof andto be superimposed flatwise against the outer face of an upright wall ofthe receptacle, the upper edge of one of said walls against which thecorners are adapted rim provided with a slot therein longitudinally ofthe line of union of the rim and the wall, and a cover provided with atab struck therefrom and adapted to be inserted in said opening andbetween said wall and said diagonally folding corner portions.

6. A receptacle formed from a single blank, one of the upright wallsthereof having a down folded reinforcing rim having a centrally locatedopening formed longitudinally of the line of union of such rim and thewall, and a cover having a tab struck therefrom between opposite edgesthereof and adapted to be inserted in such opening.

7. A receptacle formed from a single blank comprising a base, side andend walls, corner portions 6, 7, 8 and 9 integral with and intermediatesaid side and end walls and adapted to be folded along diagonals thereofand to be superimposed fiatwise against opposite end walls of thereceptacle, reinforcing rims 10, 11 extending from the side walls andcorner portions, reinforcing rims 13, 14 extending from the end walls 3,4, and having securing flaps 15 laterally extending therefrom, saidreinforcing rims 10 and 11 having openings 12 to receive the end of theflaps 15, an opening 17 being formed along the reinforcing rim 13, and acover having a tab 19 struck therefrom and adapted to be inserted insaid opening 17 and between an end wall of the receptacle and thesuperimposed diagonally folded corner portions.

8. A receptacle comprising a base and upstanding walls and cornerportions adapted to be superimposed fiatwise against certain of saidwalls, a cover mounted upon an upstanding wall of the receptacle andhaving an operating extension and a handle having portions adapted to beengaged between said superimposed corner portions and the adjacent walland having spring extensions adapted to engage the cover to permit theopening thereof and tending normally to close the same the handlegrasping portion being located adjacent the handle operating extensionof the cover.

9. Areceptacle provided with a cover upon an upstanding wall of thereceptacle and having an operating extension and a handle of springmaterial detachably and frictionally connected with said receptacle andhaving extensions engaging the cover thereof to permit the opening ofthe cover but tending normally to close the same, the handle graspingportion being located adjacent the handle operating extension of thecover.

10. A receptacle provided with a cover mounted upon an upstanding wallof the receptacle and having an operating extension and a handle havingspring extensions adapted to engage the cover to maintain the samenormally closed, the handle grasping portion being located adjacent theto be superimposed having a down folding handle operating extension ofthe cover.

:11. A receptacle having up standing walls and corner portions adaptedto be superimposed against an up standing Wall, a cover mounted upon anupstanding wall of the receptacle and having an operating eX- tension,and a detachable handle of spring material for the receptacle comprisingthe triangular portions 22, 23, the forward eX-- tensions 2-4, 25, theupright portions 26, 2'7, and the ends 28, 29, and the cover 18wherewith said ends engage, said handle tending normally to maintain thecover closed, the handle grasping portion being located adj acent thehandle operating extension of the cover, the portions 22 and 23 of thecover being between an upstanding wall and corner portions of thereceptacle superimposed thereagainst.

12. A receptacle provided with a cover mounted upon an up standing wallof the receptacle and having an operating extension and a handle havinga spring portion engaging the body of the cover to maintain the samenormally closed, the handle grasping portion being located adjacent thehandle operating extension of the cover.

13. A receptacle provided with a cover hinged upon an upstanding wallthereof, and a Wire handle having a spring end portion thereof engaginga side edge of the cover and portions intermediate the ends of the Wireengaged with but readily detachable from the receptacle, therebypermitting the ready disconnection of the handle from the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HARRY J. POTTER.

Witnesses:

M. H. LowY, IRVING U. TOWNSEND.

